Within the next few months, three buildings on campus will be brought to the ground, so be prepared for more huge trucks and traffic detours on your way to class.
Mell Hall, Sewell Hall and the Alpha Psi fraternity house are scheduled to be demolished in efforts to update and revitalize the image and character of campus.
"Every university--to stay modern--has construction programs, but you've also got to tear old stuff down. You just can't accumulate old junky buildings," said Dan King, assistant vice president for facilities. "A healthy campus has a construction program and also a demolition program, and that is the way it should work."
Back in February, the Board of Trustees approved the demolition of the buildings. King gives three reasons why it is time for each to see their last day.
"Alpha Psi has been in pretty bad repair for a while," King said. "A vacant piece of property can always be a problem. We don't want it to be an area of bad activity. We want it to be safe, and it's really a good piece of property."
King said there are no plans for the property right now other than to just get the eyesores down and put some sod around. Until that time, there are plans to work with the city to use Alpha Psi as a practice house for firefighters.
"Auburn City fire department is interested in doing some training in Alpha Psi," King said. "They want to go in there and put some smoke in there and do some rescues in the dark."
Located closer to the center of campus, Mell Hall's absence is going to be the most noticeable to students as well as tailgaters who take over the corner of Mell Street and Roosevelt Drive every year with tents and grills.
Built in 1920, Mell Hall was named in honor of Annie White Mell, a 20th-century campus and community leader. King said the building is not worth renovating.
"Mell Hall is in very poor condition," King said. "If we had to renovate that building, you would have to gut and replace the roof and windows. It's a great location, and the university will eventually do something better with it."
Until a plan is made with something to build in Mell Hall's place, it will just become a grassed knoll for anyone to stroll across. That is if officials decide not to put up don't-step-on the-grass signs.
"We anticipate the demolition to begin on July 25, and per contract, we have 37 days to knock it down," said Mark Aderholdt, project leader for the demolition of Mell Hall. "The winning bidder thinks they can have it down sooner so we will just see."
Aderholdt said there will be no explosions, so classes nearby will not have noise issues, and the grass should be ready to walk on by the second or third home game this fall.
Sewell Hall resides at the corner of Samford Avenue and Donahue Drive. Built in 1962 and named after Roy Sewell, the man commissioned to write the War Eagle fight song we still chant today, this building can house 140 beds.
Outdated and in need of a makeover, King said this prime location will become a larger dormitory that will be able to house more students and eventually help house students when the Hill dorms begin their renovation process.
After the demolition and planned building of a new dormitory and parking deck approved by the Board, King said the tentatively named West Samford and South Donahue Student Housing Complex should house roughly 400 beds.
King said no students will be affected by any of these buildings being knocked down because none are currently occupied. But, be prepared because the next few months are sure to be filled with even more hard hats around campus in the pursuit to make a more modern learning experience for everyone.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
